2008 Awardee: Ben McNeill

I am writing to accept the Dewar Award which I have been awarded for courses at Beaconsfield - I am delighted to have been selected.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 26
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Edinburgh-born Ben was forced to leave school at 18 due to family circumstances. Unable to complete his further education, however, has not thwarted Ben’s ambition nor dampened his enthusiasm.

In 2005 Ben applied for a course on film-making offered by the Prince’s Trust and since then has set his sights on making a career in film production. Immediately after the course, he went on to complete an HNC in Communication with Media and later set up his own business in Film Production & Photography, thanks to a starter grant from the Prince’s Trust.

Ben has continued his association with the Prince’s Trust, producing a number of documentary projects, and representing the Trust as a Young Ambassador. In 2008 he won the Princes Trust Stills for Enterprise and Community Impact Award.

One of Ben’s long-term project is to set up an Internet Television Studio in Scotland. To enhance his skills in order to achieve this ambition, Ben applied for and was offered a place on the residential programme Summerdocs at the prestigious NFTS, Beaconsfield.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award was given to help finance Ben’s study at the NFTS.

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I am writing to accept the Dewar Award which I have been awarded for courses at Beaconsfield - I am delighted to have been selected.

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2008 Awardee: Eoghainn MacLean

I would like to express my thanks to you all for giving me this award. You have allowed me to continue my dream and I am so grateful.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS:
 
 
 

Biography

Glasgow born and bred Eoghainn has wanted to be a film director for as long as he can remember. As a child he watched film constantly, not just for the entertainment, but to observe and study it as an art-form. He would study the lighting, camera angles and all the other elements that created mood and drove the story.

Eoghainn writes his own short film scripts, but his real passion is in the visual side of storytelling. While at school he studied art and media studies and stood out as someone who had an intuitive understanding of the subject. Long-term, Eoghainn wants his unique artistic vision to have an impact on Scottish film in the future, and he has already shown that he has the talent, passion and commitment to achieve his goal.

He has been given an opportunity to start on that journey by gaining a place on the Digital Film-making Course at the SAE Institute in Glasgow.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will contribute towards Eoghainn’s costs to attend the SAE Institute.

Since the Award

At the end of the course, Eoghainn knew that his real interest lies in post-production, that is in editing or computer-based special effects work, and he hopes to pursue a career in this area.

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I would like to express my thanks to you all for giving me this award. You have allowed me to continue my dream and I am so grateful.

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2008 Awardee: James Wood

I am delighted to accept this award … it will prove to be of great assistance to my studies.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 24
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

From Stonehaven, James graduated from Gray’s School of Art in 2007 where he studied painting and drawing.   He has a wonderful natural gift as a visual artist, excelling in painting, drawing and sculpture.

On graduation, James’s ambition was to train and work in 3D computer animation. His gift in traditional drawing techniques will be an enormous advantage in this field of work. James was accepted onto the highly-regarded Masters course at Bournemouth University, which, he writes, is the ‘perfect platform’ from which to launch himself into the competitive arena of film and video game production.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help pay towards the costs of attending this course.

Since the Award

Jamie graduated with distinction in 2009. A film of his final Masters project can be viewed on his website at www.jamiewoodart.com.

He writes, “I still feel the same passionate drive that I had one year ago to pursue a career in this area and I am extremely grateful to the Dewar Awards for the fact that I am now equipped with the skills and experience needed to break into this competitive industry. With the UK in its current position as one of the world leaders in the development of film and computer game digital content, I am now in the position of being able to represent Scotland by initially seeking a 3D artist job here in the UK.”

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I am delighted to accept this award … it will prove to be of great assistance to my studies.

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2008 Awardee: Lynsey Murdoch

I am absolutely delighted to formally accept the award .. for the completion of my film ‘Eat Me’.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 27
ARTFORMS: , , ,
 
 
 

Biography

Hailing from Cambuslang, Lynsey has been given an Award to concentrate on writing and producing her film ‘Eat Me’, about a young Scottish woman suffering from an eating disorder. As a past sufferer of bulimia, Lynsey knows a lot about the fear and obsession that can inhabit someone with an eating disorder.

Lynsey has proven writing and acting talent and was described as a ‘… new star of Scottish Theatre in the making’ for her performance in ‘Mad Cow’ at the Arches Theatre in Glasgow. In 2006 she was selected by the Playwright’s Studio Scotland for their mentoring scheme. During that time, Lynsey impressed by her commitment and the way in which she found her own voice and unique way of telling her story. Lynsey’s forte is in portraying issues which are affecting young people in society today, with an acute sense of observation and humour.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award is supporting Lynsey as she develops as a writer and performer

Since the Award

Lynsey describes the experience of writing and acting in her short film ‘Eat Me’ as “an absolute turning point” in her career.  The film was shot in May 2009 and completed later that year. It will be submitted to film festivals in the UK and worldwide.

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I am absolutely delighted to formally accept the award .. for the completion of my film ‘Eat Me’.

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2008 Awardee: Sophie Neil

I can’t thank you enough for granting me a Dewar Arts Award, enabling me to take up a coveted place at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 24
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Fife-born Sophie Neil studied drama and theatre arts at Goldsmiths College, London after leaving school. She went on to gain an MA with distinction in Scenography (Theatre Design) at the Central School of Speech and Drama also in London.

Since then Sophie has worked as a scenographer for live performance at various venues including the New South Bank Centre, the Siobhan Davis Studios and Glyndebourne. Her ultimate ambition was to study at the world-renowned National Film and Television School, which would open up wider opportunities to work in film and television as a Production Designer.

Sophie successfully beat off stiff competition from around the world to be one of only eight students accepted onto the course in 2008. She is seen as a talented and sensitive designer, and her entrance project for NFTS both intrigued and delighted the selection panel demonstrating that she would bring new ideas to designing for the screen.

One of Sophie’s secret ambitions is to design for a future Olympics.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help Sophie financially through the course in Production Design for Screen at the NFTS, Beaconsfield.

Since the Award

Sophie successfully graduated with an MA in Production Design, gaining a distinction on her dissertation entitled ‘Emptiness’. She writes that her time at NFTS “has inevitably changed my skills and my prospects beyond measure.”

Sophie has been in continuous employment since leaving NFTS, first on the set of “Bel Ami”, due for release in 2011, and currently as an Assistant Art Director with established designer, Peter Bingemann. Sophie’s animation graduate project “The Boy who wanted to be a Lion” was selected for the Short Film Competition at Critics’ Week at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.

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I can’t thank you enough for granting me a Dewar Arts Award, enabling me to take up a coveted place at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield.

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2008 Awardee: James Harrison

This will help me [towards] working in the Scottish film industry, by giving me training in areas that I would be unable to obtain in Scotland

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

James has always wanted to work in films, behind the camera as a director of photography.

Born in England, James moved to Glasgow with his family as a young boy aged eight. He was one of the first students on the new degree course at the RSAMD in digital film and TV production, from where he graduated with a first.

While he was a student, he also worked in the department looking after the digital film and audio equipment. This additional responsibility brought him into contact with a wide range of people and organisations in the industry.

James’ next step after RSAMD is to attend a number of short training programmes at the National Film and TV School in Beaconsfield which are designed to mould high quality entrants into the film and television industries. They will provide him with the essential practical skills he needs in order to break into this highly-competitive industry.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award funds James to attend a number of short programmes run by the NFTS, Beaconsfield.

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This will help me [towards] working in the Scottish film industry, by giving me training in areas that I would be unable to obtain in Scotland

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2007 Awardee: Katri Walker

I am absolutely delighted with the trustees' decision, not to mention deeply grateful... I am very excited about making the film and about GI, I know it will be a very challenging and important time for me.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 29
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.katriwalker.com
 
 

Biography

Born and brought up in Edinburgh, Katri Walker moved to Glasgow to study for her degree in Fine Art/Sculpture at the Glasgow School of Art. She graduated in 2002 with a first-class honours degree.

Since graduation, Katri has lived and exhibited in Mexico, Finland and Australia. In 2006 she was invited to take part in the Next Wave Festival, with 5 other Scottish artists, as part of the Youth Cultural programme in Melbourne, held at the same time as the Commonwealth Games. In 2005 she returned to Glasgow to pursue a prestigious Master of Fine Art at the GSA

Katri works in a variety of media, including photography, drawing and film and video. Her films are short, direct and, employing tragi-comedy as a tool, she frequently deals with aspects of interpersonal relationships.

Katri has been invited to exhibit in the third Glasgow International 2008 in a joint show with the internationally recognised Spanish artist, Dani Marti. Katri is considered to be one of the best young artists working in Scotland today and expected to become one of the most outstanding artists of her generation.

Her planned exhibit, to create a short film on one of the ancient cultural traditions found in Mexico, won universal support of the trustees.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will go towards the expenses to creating Katri’s exhibit for the Glasgow International 2008.

Since the Award

Katri writes after her duo-exhibition at the 2008 Glasgow International Festival of Contemporary Art, “The public outcome of my project .. has been a really important step in my career. The response [to the duo-exhibition] was overwhelmingly positive, not only from the public but the media also.”

Katri subsequently undertook a 3-month residency in Perth, Australia and exhibited there in early 2009.

Katri features in our 10th Anniversary Exhibition at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh.

Rapture [extract] from Katri Walker on Vimeo.

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I am absolutely delighted with the trustees' decision, not to mention deeply grateful... I am very excited about making the film and about GI, I know it will be a very challenging and important time for me.

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2007 Awardee: Paul Wright

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere gratitude for this generous support…. I am forever grateful.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 26
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3591467/
 
 

Biography

Paul is considered to be one of the most exciting filmmakers of his generation.

Brought up in Fife, Paul moved to Edinburgh to begin studying film and photography, where he quickly developed a passion for filmmaking. He went on to study film at Glasgow’s RSAMD, where his abilities stood out.

His film ‘Hikikomori’ (cinematographer: fellow Dewar Arts awardee David Liddell) received many plaudits, including a BAFTA nomination for Best Short Film, a BAFTA Scotland win for ‘Best New Work’ and a clutch of other Best Drama and Best Fiction Film awards.  It also caught the eye of the NFTS, Beaconsfield, and Paul was offered a place on their MA in Directing Fiction course.

Through the production and post-production of ‘Hikikomori’ Paul demonstrated the essential discipline required to become a great filmmaker and story-teller, knowing how to tell a story well and balance all the elements of the film to serve the central idea. Paul has already impressed as a filmmaker who is sincerely interested in his art and its possibilities as well as in the world around him and in emotional truth. His is a name to remember.

How the Award Helped

Paul received a Dewar Arts Award to help him pursue an MA in Directing Fiction at the NFTS, Beaconsfield.

Since the Award

Paul successfully graduated from NFTS with an MA in Directing Fiction. While there, he made a number of short films, one of which ‘Believe’ (cinematographer: former Dewar Arts awardee, Benjamin Kracun) has already won four prestigious film festival awards as well as a special mention at three further international film festivals. His equally stunning film short ‘Until the River Runs Red’ is tipped for similar success.

Paul has signed to Casarotto Ramsay, one of the UK’s most respected film agents, and is developing his debut feature with Zentropa Films. In an article on the state of the British film industry, Paul was described as simply “the future of the British Film Industry.” He writes, “Quite simply without The Dewar Arts Award I would not financially have been able to take my place on the course and I am eternally grateful for your help during this important time in my career.”

In 2011, Paul’s film ‘Until the River Runs Red’ won the BAFTA Best Short Film. Congratulations, Paul!

In 2013, Paul’s debit feature film ‘For Those in Peril’ received excellent reviews and was screened at Cannes Film Festival. It has since gone on to gain a Scottish BAFTA and a nomination for Outstanding Debut at the UK BAFTAs.

Until the River Runs Red

Interview at the BAFTAs

For Those in Peril

Review in Variety Magazine

Feature in The Independent

Film details on IMDB

Paul Wright Interview: ‘For Those in Peril’ at Cannes Film Festival

Paul Wright Interview: ‘For Those in Peril’ at Edinburgh International Film Festival

Paul Wright Interview: ‘Until the River Runs Red’ at The BAFTAs

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I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere gratitude for this generous support…. I am forever grateful.

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2007 Awardee: Christopher Maxwell

I am extremely grateful to the trustees.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 21
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Hailing from East Kilbride, Chris Maxwell is focussed on a career in the film industry behind the camera. His career goal is to become Director of Photography.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards enabled Christopher to attend short courses at the NFTVS, Beaconsfield.

Since the Award

Chris attended two short courses at NFTS: Camera Familiarisation and Shooting on HD. He writes that the course was excellent for the content, the equipment he was able to use and gain experience on and the expert tuition he received from top professionals.

After observing him on the courses, his tutor strongly encouraged Chris in his career ambition to become a cinematographer.

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I am extremely grateful to the trustees.

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2007 Awardee: Christopher Murray

I am delighted to accept the Dewar Arts Award.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Hailing from Glenrothes, Chris Murray studied film and media at Stirling University. As a student he impressed as one of the best thinkers and practitioners about aspects of film-making, especially editing, of his year and demonstrated real creative potential.

From there Chris went on to volunteer for a year, under the auspices of Project Scotland, for Boxstar, the West Lothian Youth Theatre film and media facility. During that year Chris worked on 15 film productions, including So now you can vote!, a short film designed to encourage teenagers to use their vote, contracted by West Lothian Council.

While there, Boxstar staff say that “he developed an in house edit style for the organisation which has resulted in the quantity and quality of our film-making improving significantly.” This also had the beneficial effect of encouraging more young people to get involved in film-making as the quality of the end product improved.

Chris impressed Boxstar so much that they offered him a full-time job at the end of his year. His ambition is to become a top-class film editor, working within the emerging Scottish film industry.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award funds Chris to attend a short course on film editing at the Metropolitan Film School in London.

Since the Award

Christopher successfully completed the short course on film editing. He writes that technically he is much more proficient with the editing software than before he started the course, artistically his knowledge of film has been broadened and he is more focused on his future career ambitions.

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I am delighted to accept the Dewar Arts Award.

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